How Do You Seal Ductwork?

Mastic is gooey, doesn’t harden, and is applied pretty easily. You can spread it over seams using a paintbrush, putty knife, or even your fingers. Even significant tears can be sealed with a combination of the mastic and fiberglass mesh tape. Mastic is preferred as a sealant, rather than duct tape because tape can fail pretty quickly. If you have damaged, leaking air ducts for professional air duct sealing and repair in Vacaville, CA, reach out to the team at A 100% Guarantee Heating and AC by calling 707-689-5128.

Can ductwork be repaired?

Not only is air duct repair possible, but it also can save you a great deal of money when it comes to energy savings. Tears, leaks, or poorly installed ductwork can waste tons of energy. You’ll improve airflow and indoor air quality by repairing or replacing your air ducts. Moreover, getting your ductwork repaired reduces the risk of a safety hazard known as “backdrafting.” This is where combustible gases are released into the home rather than going outside.  

How do I check ductwork?

If you suspect you have problems with your ductwork like leaks, you’ll want to find all the problems for air duct repair. Finding leaks isn’t easy and can take time. Here are some steps you can take to find leaks in your ductwork:

• Look for visible tears first and mark them with a grease pencil.
• Turn your air on full blast to get more air circulating, making it easier to spot leaks.
• Place your hand over duct joints and feel for air coming out.
• Light something like incense or a smoke pencil and run it under the ductwork. If there is a leak the smoke will swirl in an unusual pattern when a leak is present.
• Look for and remove any duct tape. Duct tape is a temporary fix used to seal leaks.
• Seal your leaks with an adhesive like mastic.  

How do you fix torn ductwork?

When you find tears in flex ductwork, air duct leak repair can be fairly easy. Duct tape can be used as a temporary fix. For rips, both sides of the rip need to be sealed. Duct mastic and mesh are used to make more permanent repairs. The mesh is applied first over the tear and then the mesh is covered with mastic. 

How do you replace air ducts?

If your air ducts have several leaks or tears, air duct repair may not be the best option. Replacing your air ducts might be what’s needed. How to replace them will depend on what kind of ductwork you have installed. Many homes have flex duct, which is often the easiest to install. The first step to replace the ductwork is to remove the old ductwork. The ductwork is then sealed to the connection. Lengths of ductwork can easily be fitted into each other and connected to the main connections. Take care not to drag the ductwork over roof trusses or joints, as this could easily cause tears. If you want to make sure the ductwork is installed correctly you may want a professional like A 100% Guarantee Heating and AC to help.

Underground air duct repair

One area of air duct repair where it’s best to get help from professionals is with any ductwork that is installed underground. In some instances, ductwork will be installed under your property’s foundation. This ductwork can pose plenty of problems, from being in tight spaces that make it difficult to having to deal with issues like mold, insects, flooding, and even radon gas. Because the space is so tight, professionals often have to make initial explorations with handheld digital cameras to find any problems. Making repairs usually means digging into the foundation, although in some instances aerosol sealants can be sprayed inside the ductwork to make the repair.

Air duct repair tape

As the name implies, duct tape is used to make an air duct repair. While duct tape has its uses, repairs made with it tend to be temporary. It won’t take long for the tape to wear out or fail. When sealing flex duct, it’s preferable to use mastic along with fiberglass mesh tape. This makes for a stronger, much more permanent seal.